With their top-flight status already secured, Al Khaleej welcome a desperate Al Okhdood side to Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium in a Saudi Pro League final-day clash that carries weight for only one team.
Survival no longer in their own hands, the visitors know only victory will suffice, while their hosts aim to end the season on a high.
Match preview
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Al Khaleej can reflect on a relatively decent season in which they have secured a fourth consecutive year in the top flight and now stand on the brink of recording their highest-ever points return in the competition.
Having equalled last term's tally of 37, Al-Danah only need a draw to set a new club record and give their fans something to savour as the curtain falls on another long campaign.
However, Georgios Donis's men have struggled for rhythm in recent weeks, slipping to defeat in five of their last seven matches and falling 2-0 to Al-Nassr in their most recent outing.
Their fortunes have not improved much on home turf either, with the side suffering five defeats in their last eight appearances in front of their fans and failing to pick up a single win across that sequence.
In those eight home games, Al Khaleej scored just six times and never more than once in any, while conceding almost three times as many at the other end.
Despite their patchy finish, the Pearls can still take confidence from a strong record against their next visitors, having never lost to Al Okhdood in any of their five previous meetings, winning four.
Indeed, they edged the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier in the season, and with less pressure on their shoulders, Al Khaleej may sense an opportunity to close out in front of their fans with a flourish.
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For Al Okhdood, the picture is far more grim, with Paulo Sergio's side arriving in Damman knowing anything less than three points would confirm their relegation to the second tier after just two years in the top flight.
The visitors currently sit sixteenth with 31 points and must not only win but also hope that Al Wahda stumble in their own clash against Al Ettifaq; otherwise, their stay at this level comes to a painful end.
The Ambassador of Najran gave themselves a lifeline by edging past already-relegated Al Raed last time out, with Saviour Godwin's second-half finish halting a three-match losing streak and sparking some renewed hope.
Al Okhdood have also proven capable of nicking results on the road too, with two wins from their last four away matches, with those victories coming with just a single goal scored, and the visitors will aim to grind out three points once again, hoping it proves enough for survival.
Team News
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Al Khaleej will once again be without first-choice goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic and central defender Marcel Tisserand, with both players ruled out injured.
Abdullah Al-Salem, who leads the club's scoring chart in the league with 10 goals, could be handed a return to the starting XI if Donis opts to shake things up in attack, having deployed the striker from the bench in their previous outing.
As for Al Okhdood, head coach Sergio is expected to keep faith in the side that claimed all three points last time out, with Ousmane Barry set to continue spearheading the line.
Godwin and Christian Mougang Bassogog have chipped in with a combined 13 goals for Al Okhdood this term and are once again expected to provide the supporting cast behind Barry in a more advanced three-man midfield setup.
Meanwhile, the visitors will still be without experienced midfielder Petros, who remains sidelined with the knee injury that has kept him out of action for several weeks.
Al Khaleej possible starting lineup:
Raed; Hamsal, Fahad, Al-Khabrani, Rebocho,; Hamzi, Kourbelis; Murg, Fortunis, Saleh; Al Salem
Al Okhdood possible starting lineup:
Vitor; Khamis, Asiri, Ayami; Al Saeed; Pedroza, Musona; Bassogo, Hatila, Godwin; Barry
We say: Al Khaleej 1-1 Al Okhdood
Although Al Okhdood have historically found it difficult in this fixture, they come into the contest riding the wave of momentum from their last win.
However, with Al Khaleej under no real pressure, they should still have enough in the tank to take something from this encounter – making a low-scoring draw the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
